Elderly can blame low sodium for fractures and falls
November 21st, 2010 - 2:12 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Nov 21 (ANI): A new study has shown that older adults with even mildly decreased levels of sodium in the blood (hyponatremia) experience increased rates of fractures and falls.
Falls are a serious health problem for the elderly and account for about 50 percent of deaths due to injury in the elderly.
“Screening for a low sodium concentration in the blood, and treating it when present, may be a new strategy to prevent fractures,” comments Ewout J. Hoorn, (Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands).
However, hyponatremia does not appear to affect the risk of osteoporosis, as defined by low bone mineral testing, so more research is needed to understand the link between sodium levels and fracture risk.
The study included more than 5,200 Dutch adults over age 55, all with initial information on sodium levels and six-year follow-up data on fractures and falls.
“A number of recent studies suggested a relationship between hyponatremia, falls, osteoporosis, and fractures,” Hoorn explains.
The authors’ goal was to confirm these possible associations using prospective, long-term follow-up data.
About eight percent of the study participants, all community dwelling adults, had hyponatremia. This group of older participants had a higher rate of diabetes and was more likely to use diuretics (water pills) than those with normal sodium levels. Subjects with hyponatremia had a higher rate of falls during follow-up: 24 versus 16 percent.
However, there was no difference in bone mineral density between groups, so hyponatremia was not related to underlying osteoporosis.
Nevertheless, the group with low sodium levels had a higher rate of fractures. With adjustment for other risk factors, the risk of vertebral / vertebral compression fractures was 61 percent higher in the older adults with hyponatremia. The risk of non-spinal fractures, such as hip fractures, was also significantly increased: a 39 percent difference.
The relationship between hyponatremia and fracture risk was independent of the increased rate of falls in the low-sodium group. Subjects with hyponatremia also had a 21 percent increase in the risk of death during follow-up.
The study has been presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s 43rd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition. (ANI)
- Fracture prone? Blame your genes - Apr 22, 2012
- Dietary calcium, supplements better than prescription bone-building meds - May 03, 2011
- Thinning of bones linked to heart failure - Feb 03, 2012
- Exercise 'cuts risk of fractures in elderly' - Sep 28, 2010
- Age of onset of puberty predicts adult osteoporosis risk - Jan 29, 2011
- Osteoporosis drug may help cut risk of bone fractures, breast cancer, stroke - Feb 25, 2010
- Try dietary calcium, Vitamin D for bone building - May 03, 2011
- 'Osteoporosis strikes young due to sedentary lifestyle' (Oct 20 is World Osteoporosis Day) - Oct 19, 2010
- Obese kids at greater risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis in old age - Apr 11, 2011
- Osteoporosis, the next big health worry for India (Oct 20 is World Osteoporosis Day) - Oct 20, 2011
- Eating more fish 'can ensure better bone health for astronauts' - Dec 01, 2010
- HIV-infected patients at higher risk for bone fractures - Mar 12, 2011
- Playing basketball, soccer staves off Osteoporosis - May 07, 2012
- Breast cancer survivors 'more likely to fall' - Mar 05, 2011
- Gene combinations linked to hip osteoporosis in postmenopausal women - Mar 30, 2011
Tags: bone mineral density, erasmus, fracture risk, health problem, hip fractures, hoorn, low sodium levels, new strategy, older adults, osteoporosis, percent difference, relat, risk factors, rotterdam, serious health, sodium concentration, spinal fractures, study participants, vertebral compression fractures, water pills